Walk with the dead in the world’s most famous catacombs

Don’t fancy another Halloween soaked in fake blood? Test your nerve in these real-life catacombs across the world.

The Catacombs of Callixtus in Rome (Picture: Prisma Archive / Alamy)

RomeIn first-century Rome, Christians didn’t have their own cemeteries and either buried their dead on private land or shared public burial grounds. In the first half of the second century, they began to create tombs, allowing other Christians to use them too, thus creating the Catacombs of St Callixtus. Over the years, dozens of martyrs and 16 popes have been laid to rest within the dank, cool walls. There are also a number of different sections, including the Crypt Of The Popes and the Crypt Of St Cecilia, the patron saint of music. http://www.catacombe.roma.it

Paris

Twenty metres beneath the streets of Paris are the remains of six million residents. The catacombs, which cover 200 miles, were created at the end of the 18th century and used to house bodies from the city’s cemeteries after they began to spread disease. Because of this upheaval, the Paris Catacombs are said to be one of the most haunted places on Earth, with lost souls wandering the passages. Tourists aren’t the only ones who have ventured here: the warren was also used by the French Resistance during World War II. The main entrance is found on the avenue of Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, where you can book tours.

EgyptThese catacombs near the ancient monolith Pompey’s Pillar in Alexandria were discovered by a donkey. The animal fell through the floor in 1900, revealing the ancient burial chambers below. These catacombs are especially interesting to archeologists because of their blend of Roman and ancient Egyptian styles: some of the statues in the tombs, which were created around 2AD, are Egyptian but wear Roman-style clothes. http://www.alexandriaegypt.com

London

Kensal Green is home to one of the capital’s oldest burial grounds. The cemetery is imposing, having been modelled on Pére Lachaise in Paris, which set the standard for the garden cemetery movement. Kensal Green is home to three catacombs and, on the first and third Sunday of each month, a tour descends into the tombs. While many have searched for ghosts here, it is the nearby Highgate Cemetery where things really get interesting. Its catacombs are said to be the haunt of the Highgate Vampire – not seen since the since the 1970s.

The cavernous tombs on the horseshoe-shaped island of Milos were discovered in 1844 by rogue antique dealers, who pillaged much of their treasures. Although they were built towards the end of the first century, they are regarded as an excellent record of ancient burial. The island is home to a dormant volcano, which means these catacombs were dug out of volcanic rock – no easy task. Milos is halfway between Athens and Crete. It is famous for its dramatic coastline and is ideal for those wishing to escape the crowds.